9 Innovators to Watch: Rui Ma

We’re kicking off our 9 to Watch today with a profile on Rui Ma, an early-stage investor currently supporting women entrepreneurs.

Rui Ma has her finger on the pulse of tech startups in China. Photo courtesy of Rui Ma

As 500 Startups first Venture Partner in China, Rui has a keen sense of what’s next. Her personal investment strategy is much like that of the company; she looks for tech startups that show profitability early on, are quick to succeed or fail, and are adaptive. In addition to seeking out disruptive technology and the smartest entrepreneurs, she is looking for new ways to increase investment capital and get more women involved: enter the syndicate. Early-stage investments usually range from $25K – $200K, but syndicate backing can quickly double the higher end.

For Rui, it’s not just about the money; it’s also about access, equality and sheer performance. “Of the five largest exits we’ve had, the second largest had a female CEO and, another, a female founder,” says Rui. “We’ve consistently found that women make really good management decisions.”

Where investment is concerned, diversity can be a beautiful thing. And this adage can and should apply to the sector itself just as it does a portfolio. Her investments include all kinds of promising tech startups, but Rui is especially proud to launch 500 Women and support female founders and investors through an innovative syndicate that will empower both in their respective roles. WATCH Rui as she grows 500 Women and uses her experience and intel to better support entrepreneurs using an innovative investment model.

WATCH Rui as she grows 500 Women and uses her experience and intel to better support entrepreneurs using an innovative investment model.

Rui, on 500 Startups’ global impact:

“500 Startups works with a very diverse portfolio – it’s very significant, meaning about 25% of its investments are companies outside of the US. And actually, even in the US, many angel investors don’t invest internationally and then, even domestically, work within specific regional borders. But we go out of our way to work internationally.”

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This site contains a sampling of UNICEF’s Innovation initiatives, resources, media coverage, and first person posts on how UNICEF country offices are creating innovations in programme, process, partnership and product.